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Thursday, 8 August 2013

Up a bit, down a bit - 7th August

Just concentrating on the three sprints from Goodwood last week starting with the Stewards Cup won by Rex Imperator. He didn't figure in most pundits thoughts for the race, including mine, but he had been fancied for the Wokingham when he was the selection of both Gerald Delamere and "by the numbers" in the Racing and Football Outlook as both thought he was well handicapped. He was a running on five length 6th in the Wokingham having been switched a couple of times. William Haggas has an excellent record in recent times on the sprint course at Good wood a fact that was not missed by James Pyman in Saturday's Racing Post who commented that he had enjoyed 4 wins and 4 places from 13 runners in the last 10 years. Rex Imperator had also posted his best RPR of 114 in his last race when beaten by Tropics and he was meeting that rival on 9lb better terms. In addition it turned out that high numbers were favoured as the first 3 home were drawn 26, 25 and 28. He won by a going away 2 1/4 lengths from Ajjaadd with a further half a length back to Burwaaz and he has been raised 6lb to a mark of 110, whilst the 2nd is up 1lb to 99 and the third remains on 97.
In behind Racy showed he was still in good form for Brian Ellison and Ninjago showed that he was still improving with a running on 5th, he stays on 103. Tropics is also probably capable of better, he was just drawn in the wrong place this time.
The winner may now be aimed at the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock as the trainer seems to like a runner or two there, whilst Racy may take up an entry this weekend at Ascot.

In the earlier Stewards Sprint Stakes, which was run half a second slower, the winner was Clive Cox's Seeking Magic by a nose from Take Cover(goes well fresh) with 3/4 of a length back to Chooseday in third and they have been raised 5lb to 98, 4lb to 93 and 2lb to 87. The handicapper didnt seem to take too much note of what happened behind as he only changed the ratings of all runners between 5th and last (24th) by no more than 1lb. In behind Picture Dealer, who was on an upward form curve coming into the race, got a poor start and he did well to get himself into any contention.

Earlier in the week 3yo Moviesta won the competitive King George Stakes over 5f and in doing so he beat Swiss Spirit by 1 and a half lengths with Justineo and another improving 3yo Glass Office in 3rd and 4th. The winner now has form figures of 321811221 and he is entered for the Group 1 Nunthorpe for which he is a best priced 7/1 and he remains capable of further improvement.His sire Hard Spun, who doesn't have too many runners this side of the atlantic, is really making big strides in the breeding ranks and his is a name we may hear a lot more about in the UK and hopefully from a 2yo that I have a share in that is yet to race for the all powerful Hannon stable.

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL READERS. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. PS: IF YOU LOVE SPRINT RACING THEN YOU ARE WELCOME TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WEBSITE. I MAY EVEN THROW IN A FEW FREE BETS IF YOU MUSE LIKE OSCAR WILDE (AS THE GREAT MAN SAID: BE YOURSELF; EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN).

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The horse may have been waiting in the stable...but it just kicked down the door and ran off like Dayjur with his tail on fire.